November 2008

November 30, 2008

Here I am, at OIA waiting to head to Anaheim, then to Phoenix then to Tulsa. Three days, three cities...I am visiting at least 12 different venues and looking forward to it...We had a great Thanksgiving in SC with my parents. It is always great to get up there and almost completely disconnect. We came home yesterday so I could get a bunch of errands done before leaving this morning.

This year for my birthday, my husband bought me a small point and shoot digital camera so that I wouldn't have to carry around the big camera everywhere. I love both cameras, but once I got the smaller one which takes some pretty darn good photos, I kind of let the big Nikon collect dust (which is an absolute shame!). I have recently rediscovered the big camera and fancy lenses. We did an impromptu photo shoot in the front yard before leaving for SC and I got some great photos, which reminded me to get out the big camera more often and just shoot photos for nothing other than pure enjoyment. Here are some shots from that day

I probably took over 100 photos, just goofing around, gotta love digital.

Another big thing that happened right before Thanksgiving was Rhyan waking up on Wednesday and deciding that she was going to get her ears pierced. That's right, out of nowhere, she wakes up, walks out of her room and states that she is getting her ears pierced. The conversation went like this:

Rhyan: "I am getting my ears pierced today"

Mom: "What?"

Rhayn: "Today is the day I am going to get my ears pierced."

Mom: "Really, how come today?"

Rhyan: "Because I want to and it will only hurt for like 5 minutes."

So we all got dressed and went to our local ear piercing place (which I so dislike because the store is so dang crowded!) and she did it, with minimal crying. She was so brave. I thought that it might prompt Chase to get it done as well, but she isn't ready yet, and that is okay.

November 27, 2008

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Today is the day to be grateful, and I am greatful for many things, here are just a few...

1. My family. I am very thankful for my wonderful husband and beautiful daughters. While we may drive eachother crazy from time to time, I am blessed. We are all healthy and happy

2. The rest of my family and our close friends, who we consider to be family. We are lucky to have close relationships with our extended family and many friends both near and far.

3. My job. I have been blessed to be able to travel the country and teach scrapbooking classes to others. I love the connection and bond I feel with each and every person I encounter across the country almost instantly because of our shared love for the hobby.

4. My health. I had a major health scare in the middle of the year and it prompted me start a weight loss journey. I have since become healthier and have lowered my risk for several things including heart failure and liver disease.

5. Justin Timberlake. Because I could just look at him all day and be happy. (okay and maybe Hugh Jackman too...oh and Patrick Dempsey and also Adam Levine)

November 26, 2008

Hello, long time no post. I have no excuse except that I have been living a very busy life lately....Since I returned home I have been to the theatre twice, weighed in twice, Cooked 7 evening meals, gone shopping for new clothes several times and have been working on our Private Reserve Events for 2009. Okay, Theatre twice, once to see Bolt, which is great and very funny, I totally think the hamster steals the show which was voiced by the actual animator. The second film, of course was opening day of TWIGHLIGHT...I really like it, I won't say that I loved it, it was not better than the book, they could have done a much better job with the casting and the character development, but hey, they don't ask for my opinion. Would I see it again, probably. Will I see the the sequels, most definitely. I haven't really been scrapping that much. I hope to get some done this weekend while we are at my parents house in South Carolina. I just received some new goodies to play with and will be posting a layout/card or project every day next week using some of these delicious goodies. I have weighed in twice as well, last week I only lost a pound...I was a little disappointed and for no reason, a loss is a loss right? I have not seen my parents since starting this little weight loss project and my goal was to have lost 35 lbs by the time we saw them for Thanksgiving...well, this week when I weighed in I lost 2.4 lbs bringing my total to 36 lbs lost...36 POUNDS GONE! I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am. Now I have a new goal of losing 14 more by the time Chuck and I go on our trip to Las Vegas/Arizona/California for our neice's wedding. Well we are leaving in a few hours and I still have to pack. I will leave you with a few lo's...

November 17, 2008

The Seattle Show is over, sorry I didn't post at all this weekend, but We stayed at the Hilton, and you have to pay for the internet service, it kinda drives me nuts and I don't do it. It seems the nicer the hotel there is a fee to use the internet (which they have to have anyway!). It is a principle thing for me. Anyway, I had a great time at the convention. It was great to meet some new people and of course, see my recent friends from the Private Reserve. I have to admit I was a little sad when it ended, but not terribly. I now get to look forward to A month at home during my favorite time of the year. I will return to Washington State in January for our Pilot Class event (12 different classes in 2 days!). I am also excited to be home so that I can play, play with some new paper that I got this weekend as well as my Club Q kit that came home with me, check back for photos by the end of the week! After the Convention I stayed an extra day so that I could play in Seattle and see some sights..Well it was a great day. Probably the best day I have had in a while and it has just a little to do with where I was, and mostly to do with my company. Sunny (who works at Quick Quotes) stayed with me and we played. We went on the Underground Seattle Tour which was really interesting (even if it is all a bunch of crap! hahahahah) and then we met the Scrap-Mart Crew at Pike Place Market for a little jaunt, then the shopping began. We went to Macy's and got some smoking deals. I don't often shop, and I rarely shop with another person. I had a great time and really need to shop with others more. Then we had dinner at a really great Thai restaurant and then it was time for me to go to the Airport. Here are some photos from the day

November 07, 2008

So I have been laying low the last few days, painting and scrapping, scrapping and painting. The weather here has been beautiful, opened up the house and began painting my youngest daughter's room two different shades of Purple. Hopefully we will finish it up tomorrow. I decided to put up a chair rail as well, it is a little more involved than I anticipated. I will be sure to post some pictures. In the mean time, here is one of the layouts I have finished:

November 03, 2008

31 was the number my husband wore when playing high school sports, he considers it his lucky number. Well, today, it is my lucky number. It is the number of pounds I have lost since starting this journey. I am so stinkin excited! I have yet to set an ultimate goal, and that is okay. I just hope to continue on this path. I am also happy to report that I exercised today and I scrapped today as well, so far so good on the november goals!

November 02, 2008

Well, I have been a little slacker lately haven't I? St Paul was wonderful...We went to the Mall of America which was an experience (I Didn't even go to Archiver's!) The foliage was beautiful and I rode a city bus for the first time ever. I only have one more show left this year in Seattle...we are having Pilot classes in January and the first show for next year is in February...I am looking forward to the down time and being home...The holidays are my favorite time of year, and the only time I miss living further north. We have Travel plans for Thanksgiving, but will be staying home for Christmas. We had a great Halloween here....Chase went with a group of her friends so I didn't get any photos of her, but Chuck and I both took Rhyan around our neighborhood, and she loved her costume...

It was a little big and a little cool out so she had to wear a shirt underneath which she wasn't too happy about at first, but at the end of the night she thanked us for making her wear it..Pumpkin Carving is always a big thing at our house, here is what this years looked like:

Since I will be home most of November, I have set a goal to scrapbook every day and complete 30 lo's this month, and I am off to a pretty good start. I finished three this weekend (so far, getting ready to go back in!) and hope to have time to do a few more tomorrow...Here is one that got finished....

I have also set a goal to submit, submit, submit....Another goal I am going to try and reach involves exercise...I have lost 28 lbs and have yet to start exercising(which is both good and bad)...I hope to continue the losing trend and I know that exercising will help and I love to exercise, I really enjoy that "I can move a wall" feeling, it's just getting started that is hard.